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Codes of Conduct is described as a provocative exploration of young African-American Beverly Snow's (Devon Terrell) experience entering New York high society, with a past that may not be what it seems.

Oscar nominee Helena Bonham Carter (The King's Speech, The Wings of the Dove) will co-star as Esther Kaufmann, a woman born into a prominent Jewish family in Manhattan who is an author and psychiatrist. The divorced mother of two grown boys, she is now living life on her own terms — terms that change dramatically though after she crosses paths with the enigmatic Snow. Should Codes of Conduct move to series, it would mark Bonham Carter's first series regular role. She's repped by WME, Felker Toczek and Conway Van Gelder in the U.K.

Rebecca Hall (Parade's End, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, The Town)is set as Rebecca Rotmensen, the eldest child of a New York billionaire. The smart, educated Rebecca will emerge as Beverly's foremost rival, his equal in guile and ruthlessness. She's repped by WME and Julian Belfrange Associates in the U.K.

McQueen (12 Years a Slave) co-wrote the pilot script alongside World War Z's Matthew Michael Carnahan. Both will exec produce alongside See-Saw Films' Iain Canning and Emile Sherman (The King's Speech, Top of the Lake) and Russell Simmons via the latter's overall deal with HBO. McQueen will direct the pilot, his first foray into television. Canning and Sherman produced McQueen's Shame, with the former also exec producing the Oscar winner's feature debut, Hunger.

Bonham Carter's casting reunites her with King's Speech's Sherman.

The duo join a cast that also includes Paul Dano as Jared, a hip yet altruistic entrepreneur who brings Snow into his fold.